Dark Crystal Ball (Miscellaneous Magic Items):

Crystal Balls are some of the rarest magic items and are some of the
most valuable magic items in the world as well. Ofter only the richest
and most wealthy of individuals can afford these items. They allow one
to see a person, creature, or place even if many leagues away (Range of
1000 miles / 1600 kilometers.) The target can be seen and the magic encompasses
a ten foot area and the sounds of voices both inside the sphere and outside
can be heard.

There is a crystal ball which is quite unusual. It is said that the
crystal ball appears to be a bit darker than a standard crystal ball. It
does give visions similar to that of a standard crystal ball but not quite.
No, these visions are twisted. In cannot be said that the visions actually
lie but they are distorted and it is extremely easy for one to get the
wrong impressions for these visions.

The person watching the images will catch the target, if a person, often
with expressions which appear to be sinister. If the target knows the name
of the one using the crystal ball, this will often be while the name of
that possessor of the crystal ball is being said. As well, when voices
are heard, these will also be distorted and they will often be misunderstood
to be something derogatory or directly plotting against the possessor of
the crystal ball. An ally or friend might be perceived as planning to betray
them. With a spouse, often times there might be the added impression that
the spouse is planning to cheat on the possessor of the crystal ball.

In addition, the crystal ball has a minor curse. Unlike most curses,
the possessor can discard the magic item and will lose the effects of the
curse. The curse though is that the possessor of the crystal ball will
develop a minor paranoia. He or she will feel that people are out to betray
the possessor of the crystal ball. As one might expect, this makes it all
the harder for one to persuade the possessor to get rid of the item. Often,
their distrust will fall on those closest to them. This will cause them
to often spy on them and get the twisted visions of them in turn.

Between the curse and the twisting effect of the crystal ball, the possessor
will often attempt to eliminate the problem and who they perceive as the
trouble maker. Quite a bit of bloodshed has resulted from this and has
caused the possessor of the crystal ball to kill allies, friends, and spouses.
It is even said that wars have started due to the effects of this magic
item although some scholars discount this.

Even with these effects, few possessors will know that the item is in
any way twisted or cursed. Being that the effects are fairly subtle, it
is hard to see them at first. In addition, after someone has payed millions
in gold for the item, they are often extremely reluctant to part with it.

In most ways, the crystal ball is like a standard crystal ball and requires
no magical energy to activate and the visions last as long as the possessor
concentrates on them. As with a normal crystal ball, some magic is able
to block the ability of the possessor to look into a place or scan an individual.
Finally, a practitioner of magic (third level or above), dragons, most
creatures of magic, and greater supernatural beings can often sense being
spied on by the crystal ball (38%+2% per level - roll every five minutes
of observation.) They can turn towards the direction of observation and
then concentrate magical energy (15 P.P.E.) And the vision will go dark.
The being or location then cannot be observed for many hours (4D4 hours.)
Still, at least the being who was being spied on cannot tell who was spying
on them. See the writeup of the standard crystal ball for more details.

Cost: Few will be able to tell the item is curses / twisted and
will usually pay millions for it.